JOHN MARTYN “I don’t suppose I’d be making any music whatsoever without drink and drugs. I was drinking from the age of nine. I still Grace & Danger fucking love it when I get loaded.” It has been a long, hard journey, but somehow – despite chronic health problems, a penchant for over-indulgence and the whims of the music industry – John Martyn has survived. Back with his first album for four years, the great man takes Jonathan Wingate through the past darkly, down the road to ruin and back again... lthough John Martyn started out as In the summer of 1969 John Martyn was It’s all water under the bridge. Gone – not a folk singer, it wasn’t long before he hired to play for an up and coming singer forgotten, but gone.” Ahad outgrown the incestuous from Coventry called Beverley Kutner. Although he had first used the Echoplex singer-songwriter scene and introduced a Within a matter of months, they were effects unit on his guitar back in 1969, it unique blend of blues, dub, jazz, rock and married.The duo travelled to America to didn’t really become a feature of Martyn’s funk into his music. At 19, he recorded his record two albums together, Stormbringer music until1971’s Bless The Weather. debut album, London Conversation for £150 and Road To Ruin. “The Echoplex definitely changed my and became the first white solo singer to “Suddenly, we were in Woodstock, career, and was very important in sign for Island Records. surrounded by all these Americans, developing my sound. It really did take a “Making London Conversation meant swinging like bitches,” he beams.“We were jump. People hadn’t heard it before. I absolutely sweet fuck all to me,” Martyn playing with The Band – Levon Helm…I’ve couldn’t find a way to get that sustain and mumbles between mouthfuls of red wine, forgotten the rest. Stormbringer was a step make myself sound like a saxophonist. It slouched in a large leather armchair at his forward, but I’m not so sure about Road To put the back beat on it, which I house in Thomastown, Kilkenny.“I think it Ruin, although it was cool because I got to invented…thank you very much.” took about two days to record. It Were you trying to sing like John didn’t get any reaction “I was very sore making this record, up to Coltrane or Charlie Parker played? whatsoever, so I went in to see “Nah,”he chuckles, chugging back Blackwell and said:Why is it not my arsehole in painkillers. I can’t actually his glass of wine,“I’m good selling? And he replied:‘I don’t enough, but I ain’t that cool. I never want to record you anymore, but remember it much. I could have done it better really made any cool moves or I’d like your publishing.’ I said if my leg hadn’t been dropping off.” conscious career decisions.” don’t be silly,‘cos nobody gives a toss, and nobody will hear from me again. play with my friends like Danny Thompson. ESSENTIAL POWER “The folk scene was very incestuous,” “Danny and I were like brothers. He plays Martyn has just made his twenty-second he continues.“Everyone was kind to very cool bass, man.When we were playing studio album, On The Cobbles, which each other. No matter how bad you right, it was beautiful. But we were both a features a guest list including Paul Weller, were.‘Can you sing? No? Never mind.’ bit vicious. Danny used to give hotel Mavis Staples and ex-Verve guitarist Nick You’d buy ‘em a drink anyway. The scene managers 50 quid and go:‘There, that’s for McCabe. It’s a fine album, although was stifling, because we all placed C, F the damage.’What damage? ‘There fucking Martyn seems distinctly unenthusiastic and G with E minor or A minor. That was will be,’” John Martyn laughs like a blocked about it, perhaps because he recorded it cool, but eventually, you have to move drain.“Of all the people I’ve met, Danny was just before he had his right leg away from there.” probably the sweetest.” amputated below the knee. Would you say your hedonistic lifestyle “I was very sore making this record, up to DAVEY GRAHAM has helped you creatively? “It’s self- my arsehole in painkillers. I can’t actually John Martyn was actually born Iain David evident, is it not,” he says.“I don’t suppose remember it much. I could have done it better McGeachy on 11th September 1948 in New I’d be making any music whatsoever if my leg hadn’t been dropping off. Seriously, if Malden, Surrey. He was the only son of two without drink and drugs. I was drinking you’ve got septicaemia going through your light opera singers who separated when from the age of nine. I still fucking love it body, you do not feel too fucking cool.” Martyn was still a young child. He stayed when I get loaded.” What does music mean to John Martyn? with family and grew up in Glasgow within “If you love music, then the music will come earshot of the Hampden roar. ECHOPLEX through you. It’s nothing to do with “My family didn’t listen to much music, Between 1971 – 1981, John Martyn physical chemistry between people.The because we all played,” he recalls.“When I recorded an astonishing run of pioneering music will overpower you, and must do. was 14, I copped Joan Baez singing The albums including Bless The Weather, Solid Air, That’s the thing,” he screams, downing Silver Dagger.Then I copped Davey Graham, Sunday’s Child, One World, Grace and Danger another glass of red and slamming it on the which just blew me straight away. I begged and Solid Air, which most Martyn table.“The music is the driving force.That’s my daddy to buy me a guitar, although he aficionados consider to be Martyn at the more important than any personality or any actually made me pay for it,‘cos we weren’t peak of his considerable powers.“Solid Air thought. It really is just the power of the too rich. I had a paper round and a milk didn’t change anything, because by then, I fucking music, man. I don’t give a damn round, so I saved up the money. I was so was there,” he insists.“It sold more, though. what anyone else says. Essential power – keen, it was silly. I used to run all the way You’re talking about 30 years ago, mate. In that’s what music is.” home from school at lunch and just tootle hindsight, it don’t make no fucking about on my guitar.” difference whether it’s true or it ain’t true. On The Cobbles is out now on Independiente Design and Layout by Cat’s Eye Creative Services Ltd. www.catseyecreative.com Grace and Danger is a studio album by John Martyn, released on October 13, 1980 by Island Records. The album was written and recorded while John Martyn was in the process of divorcing his wife Beverley, and the songs strongly reflect the emotional upheaval that he was experiencing at the time. Martyn and Phil Collins forged a close friendship during the writing and recording of the album with both musicians going through painful divorces at the time - Collins played drums and provided backing vocals... Drawing upon an array of styles, ‘Grace And Danger’ was a cathartic, sometimes painfully intimate exploration of the breakdown of John Martyn’s marriage. Published on. October 20, 2020. By. Tim Peacock. Born in Surrey but raised in Glasgow, John Martyn only began playing guitar when he was 15, yet within two years he was already eking out a living from his music. John Martyn - Grace & Danger (1980). To favorites 1 Download album. Listen album. Songs in album John Martyn - Grace & Danger (1980). 1. John Martyn - Some People Are Crazy. Grace And Danger. 4:04. John Martyn. Grace And Danger First Version. 4:11. John Martyn. Grace and Danger, Eastbourne, East Sussex. 1,712 likes · 80 talking about this. Eastbourne founded four-piece ‘Grace and Danger’ are making a name for... Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a Page. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. Page created – 19 July 2016. People..